The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-03-06
BLODGEITS GREAT LEAP.
SOME NEW views OF THE senate
RIAL BATTLE At TRENTON.

Attempts with other Aspirants-Ed
walds's Cautious Fisht-How Presi
dent Fish Defeated Sewelrs Election
TRENTON. March 5.-[SPEcIAL ]-Some-
body vitiily says of John Smith that he
trudged into town fifty years ago with his
pack on his back looking for resting
plsce, and that nav his name is as broad
as the continent. That's pretty much the
case with Rufus Blodgett. But John
Smiths niche in the temple of fame was
reached by slow stages, and by plodding
adherence to the rules of multiplication.
Bloogett's upward career was achieved in
spite of all rules. To-day his name is
known all over the land. 1t was only yes
terday that he was unknown anywhere.
The same fairy whose magic wand lifted
Cinderella from the ashes where her jeal-
GUS sisters had hidden her stay, to the
throne of the princess, cracked the Sena-
forial nut here on Wednesday and drew
forth the toga for her humble devotee of
the pines to put on over his over-alls. The
sons of Jacob were not more amazed to
meet their discarded brother on the throne
of tie Pharaohs than were the sons of New
Jersey to see the subaltern of yesterday
lifted into one of the chief places in the
land to-day.
From an humble cottage in the wilder
ness to the brillinnt life of the Capitol; the
willing seryitor of Kelsey and Satellite
rising with a mornings sun on throne
of commanding influence and power;
plain Member Of Assembly, that was, leap
ing over the heads of State Senators and
Judges and Cor gressmen and Governors,
into the United States Senate; salaIied
employee, but yesterday boiling out his
hands TO his ''bosses" for his monthly sti-
pend, become the dispenser of the patron
age of a nation; the rude son of toll decked
in purple and fine linen among the
grandees of the land; the urtutored me-
chanic set down to the solution of prob
lens Of empire-and all at single boundl
It passes the widest dream OF fancy. 1t
rises into the reqlm of fable.
But the legislature of this State brought
it down 10 solid fact on Wednesday, and
made it history. 1t may not be literally
true that Rufus Blodgett was carrying
fodder Ito his COWS when the news of his
sudden elevation was borne to him, but 1t
would not have been an impossible cembi-
nation of extremes; for the same hand that
cut hay for his cattle yesterday tniH bear
his commission, with the great seal of
State attached, 10 the Nations Capitol at
Washington tomorrow.
The scene that transformed bis uneyent-
full rustic life into fairy tale, was quite
as remarkable as the transformation
ITSELF No man who witnessed the strug-
gle that resulted in his election can forget
l. L III 1<~.a~
of the State had been struggling for tie
mastery for weeks and weeks. Albeit.
elected by the people Governor, and then
elected by the people Senator, had solid ar
my Of adherents; SeYell, the favored leader
of the Republican cohorts. had an equally
strcng and solid army of adherents. Be-
tween them were some Democrats who
would rot vote for Albeit and didn't dare
to vote for Sewell, and some Republicans
who wouldn't vote for Sewell and didn't
dare to vote for Albeit, and Labor con-
tingent that were perfectly free to help
either or neither as their whims dictated.
Albeit, backed by the demands of the
people of the State, held to his post, and
refused to withdraw; and Sewell tried the
patience of his loyal soldiers in the hope
against hope that some turn in the tide of
fortune might yet bring triumph to his
banners Sewell had been importuned to
release his strength to candidate with
better prospects, and he had half agreed;
but he dallied with the tickle dame from
day to day TIL she refused to wait on him
longer, and the chances of his party were
gone. 1t is said, however, that he ulti-
mately consented to permit an effort to be
made in the interests of Phelps; but the re-
calcitrant Democrats insisted upon keeping
their pledge to their people to vote for
none but a Democrat, and the movement
amounted to nothing. Overtures were
made to the Labor men next If they
could get single Democratic vote for John
Mcdonnell, the Paterson labor agitator, the
Republican caucus stood ready to join
hands in electing him. Thirty-six Repub-
licans and Baird and Kinney, whom they
owned, and the Labor Assemblymen were
ready to go into such deal, but no Demo
crat would listen to it. Throckmorton and
Chattle suggested to the Republicans that
Bedle be accepted by them. But a lumber
of the Republicans were opposed to Bedle
because of his Morris and Essex connec-
tons, and, SO, that proposition fell dead.
Then the Republicans were asked would
they accept Blodgett would they accept
Kays? Iftheywould accept neither, the bolt
ing Democrats proposed to make no further
effort to come to terms with them, and
served notice that they would return to
Their party allegiance and vote for Albeit
at the four o'clock Joint Convention if no
arrangement had been made. The Repub-
lican caucus were unwilling to give a
Democrat a formal nomination, and a
"Steering Committee" as Assemplyman
Dickinson calls it, were appointed. They
were fully empowered to make the best
terms they could with the deserters from
the other caucus-to bring them over to
Sewell if they could, or deliver the solid
Republican phalanx over to one of the two
Democrats named whom Throckmorton,
Chattle and Baird could agree upon. The
concienceless ''Speaker" demanded Hayes,
but Throckmorton and ChRttle outvoted
him for Blodgett. Baird consented to vote
with them. and the deal was done. The